The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-10-13


green uniform, and above his hat large
plume waved. He was handsome soldier
like man, and seemed worthy Of better
command. In the rear, one of their number
was borne on hurdles.
When the men saw me they stopped. and
questioned the hostess suspiciously. A few
words sufficed to satisfy them, and they
proceeded to make themselves at home. A
heap of peat that stood beside the hearth
was thrown upon the fire, and bright
blaze soon danced in the chimney, and Iii
| up the forms of the men, who crowded as
| closely as possible, sat or lay around the
| fire. The woman of the house was activity
| itself She filed large pot with potatoes
and set them to cook, afterwards spreading
on a table her little store of eatables. Then
she attended TO the person who was injured
He was low-sized, slender lad of fourteen
or fifteen, who now lay on the only bed OF
| which the cottage boasted. His face was
pale, and his features were distorted in an
| effort to suppress the cry of agony that rose
| to his lips. The lads pain arose from a
| sprained ankle; and when the foot was re
lieved from the pressure of the boot and
wrapped in wet fannels, the boy uttered a
| sigh of relief.
| The majority were rough, wild lot; but
l was interested by their chief and by this
| boy. The former sat apart, his dark, hand
| some face wrapped in gloom, his hands toy
ing with the knot of his sash, while he
| looked thOughtfully at the ground. The
boy was apparently ignorant of the oaths
and jests around him; eye and ear were on
| the alert, his glance being fixed on the
window, through which he commanded a
view Of the high grounds outside.
soon found that l was the subject OF
conversation between two or three of the
party, one of them, tall, burly, black
browed ruffian eyeing me in no friendly
manner. "Where may you be from,
strangerl' he asked.
London" replied briefly.
II told you So" he said, turning to his
| comrades. 81 knew he was a Sassenach,
an curse me if he stays under the same
roof as us!n
you're right, be jabers!" cried another.
'We'n have no Saxon spies here"
must own to having felt uncomfortable,
and said in as conciliatory tone as pos
sible: ''Gentlemen, if my presence is OBJ
jectionable, shall leave"
"How polite you are" said the first
speaker, with an oath. Lave you go and
tell where we've gone? Not likely. Look
here, boys; suppose we tie him up and
throw him into the pigstyl 1t will be good
enough lodgings for the English baste."
t Isprang to my feet, seeing the fellows
about to carry out the proposal; and fear
ing that their violence might proceed to
fatal lengths, l snatched up a sword that
one of them had laid aside, and said that
whoever approached me would do so at his
own risk.
The leading ruffian grinned, and quietly
pointing musket at me, said: "Put down
that sword before l say three. One, two
"Lower your weapon, STRIP came like
trumpet-blast from the corner where their
chief sat. Up to that moment he seemed
ignorant of what passed around, but he now
stood erect, his eyes flashing Indignantly.
Leave that man alone" he continued; 1--WE
are not murderers."
30, begorra!' the other replied, "we're
all captains now, an there's no masther
here" He again pointed his gun at me.
which he had for moment lowered.
''You scoundrel,' the leader replied,
you'll be in the dock soon, and will have
enough to answer for without adding to 1t
the blood of an innocent man"
The eyes of all were fixed On my assail-
ant. Those who formerly encouraged him,
less ruffianly or less daring, fell back on
hearing their captains voice; but this one
appeared quite unmoved. The woman of
the house sat in a corner, her apron thrown
over her head, in order to shut out the
bloody scene that was, she believed, immi-
nent. The lad looked on with dilated eyes,
his lips parted, and his breathing almost
suspended. l mechanically clutched the
sword, and kept my eyes fastened on the
trigger of the musket, VIII ich the mans
finger pressed.
'Put down the sword" he repea ted, in
low. hoarse voice. 'Oue-two''-
l closed my eyes and muttered prayer.
For an instant hesitated whether to COM
ply or to make dash for the door. A loud
report nearly deafened me; there was
scream; and on opening my eyes, saw my
assailant dancing about the room, swear
ing furiously, and nursing his right hand,
from which blood poured. The leader stood
looking sternly at his wounded follower;
and the sight of revolver, still smoking,
in his hand told me to whom l owed my
life. There was not murmer heard, even
the ruffian whose murderous designs were
frustrated, after the first outburst, writhed
in silence.
perhaps you will be kind enough to give
that rascal some old linen and help him to
bandage his hand"
While my hostess was engaged. on this
task, two of the men who had been placed
as sentinels outside rushed IN. The red
coats are comin'!' they cried. There's
cavalry there too, an some o. the boys are
runnin' this way"
In an inSfaOr all WAC wild
With a cry of alarm, my would be murderer
fed, completing the wrapping of his
wounded limb while running. He was
followed by several others. ''Strain the
praties!" cried some of those who re-
manned; aud before many seconds, the
huge pot was taken from the fire, the water
drained oft, and the half-cooked potatoes
divided among the hungry rebels, who
thrust them into their pockets and hats,
burning their hands, and dancing with pain
The chief was the last to leave the house,
after committing the boy to the woman's
charge. While he divested himself OF his
plume and sash, and put on a large over
coat that one of his followers left behind,
thanked him for his timely Intervention on
my behalf
PRAY, do not mention it." he said with a
pleasant smile. Had l stood by quietly, l
should have been as great villain as the
other. FareweIlr'
The lad was terribly frightened. "Ohr'
he sobbed, ''if 1 could only run! But 1
can't, an they'll ketch me an hang me-"
My hostess was hardly recovered from
the stupor into which she was thrown by
my peril, and she now looked around WITH
dull eyes.
''Can Ne do nothing to save this poor
hoy l'' asked SsWhy not saw he is your